Lower House members buck Charter change

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Even as Malacañang seemed to have retracted its hint of dropping the 2016 polls, members of the House of Representatives said they will oppose any Charter change that will allow a sitting president to seek re-election.

“We are not supporting the cha-cha because the constitution does not allow the president to run for a second term unless you amend the constitution,” Zamboanga city 2nd district Rep. Lilia Nuño told newsmen here Saturday during the weekly Issues in the News program of the Zamboanga Press Club.

Nuño , a member of Nacionalista Party, said many of the minority bloc do not support extending the term of incumbent government officials to accommodate the interest of “a few.”

Nuño believes that there are groups which are convincing the president to stay in power to protect themselves from charges. Aquino is facing three impeachment complaints at the lower house.

Although she is opposed to amending the constitution, Nuño said she is also opposed the impeachment of Aquino as this would derail development programs of the government.

At least three impeachment complaints against Aquino have been filed before the House of Representative since July. These were separately filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano, former Technical Education Skills Development Authority chief Augusto Syuco, and party list representative and militant groups.

The complainants cited the administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program, and the Expanded Defense Cooperation Agreement the country signed with the United States last March as bases for the impeachment complaints.

“We in the Nacionalista are not in favor of the impeachment complaints (against Aquino) because these will derail the programs of the government,” Nuño said.

The 2nd district congresswoman was confident the impeachment against Aquino will not prosper as those supporting it do not have the number. —